SENATOR Uche Ekwunife, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the nullification of her election by the Court of Appeal, has asked the APC to conduct a primary for the Anambra Central senatorial election.
Besides, she has explained why she dumped the PDP for the APC insisting that it was in the interest of the constituents.
Fielding questions from journalists at the weekend in Awka, Anambra State, she said she does not want to be gifted the APC ticket and would rather want the APC hierarchy to conduct a fresh a primary for all the aspirants interested in the senatorial seat.
Ekwunife who was once a governorship candidate in the state and a former member of the House of Representatives, pledged to support whoever wins the ticket if she did not get it.
“Nobody is dashing me ticket and I don’t want to be dashed ticket, I’m not asking for the ticket to be giving to me, so nobody is giving anybody ticket and I don’t want that even suggested to me. The primary is open for everybody and I want proper primaries to be conducted, if I win I want to be supported and if another person wins I will support the person,” she stated.
She claimed to be a victim of circumstances stressing that the Appeal Court agreed that she beat Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but noted that her election was quashed because of invalid nomination by the PDP.
She was optimistic that she would defeat Umeh again, if nominated by the APC, adding she represented her constituents well when she was given the opportunity at the National Assembly.
Nobody is dashing me ticket and I don’t want to be dashed ticket, I’m not asking for the ticket to be giving to me, so nobody is giving anybody ticket and I don’t want that even suggested to me. The primary is open for everybody and I want proper primaries to be conducted, if I win I want to be supported and if another person wins I will support the person
Her words: “I represented my constituency well for eight years and when you put my achievements together none of my contenders will see my back, even in my place in Igboukwu I tied one of the best roads in that place. So, I think I have represented the people well and that is why it is always good, when you have the platform to serve people serve them well because that the only legacy you can leave and the only thing that can follow you behind.”
Speaking on her chances in APC, Ekwunife, bragged that she has a formidable structure to fulfill her desire, saying that her chances were bright. “I went through the APC manifesto and constitution. Once you are a member, you have same rights and privileges as old members. The only difference is that you are not an executive member. Remember, in Benue state, Governor (Samuel) Ortom ran the primary in PDP. He was running for the Senate in PDP. When it became impossible, he defected to the APC, got the ticket, ran the election and won.
“What should be paramount for any political party is the capacity and capability of a candidate to deliver. I am very hopeful and certain of winning. Irrespective of our political affiliations and religious background, we are not foreigners. Anambra Central voters know us and our antecedents. I am very confident that I will win the seat back.”
On criticisms trailing her defection to the APC, the senator said she was left with no other option when the PDP leadership publicly said it would not organize Anambra Central Senatorial primaries until detained National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh is released from detention.
When my election was nullified, I thought the PDP would have used the opportunity to reconcile all the factions. I made every effort for reconciliation. It was not possible. I wrote the party, notifying them of my nullification and requesting for a fresh primary to be conducted by the party… When we had a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka with the state chairman, all the other members were there. At least two of those that took me to court came and I saw the vehemence. One of them said, ‘if the Court of Appeal did not nullify the election, he would have done it at the Supreme Court’ …I said they should look at the results of the election from our wards and polling units, that from these you will know who ran the election and who has the capacity to win election for the party. Some of those claiming to be candidates lost in their wards.
After the meeting, we all thought everybody should start going for Ward tours to start talking to delegates in readiness for fresh primaries. We have 109 wards. That was on Monday or Tuesday. However, on Thursday, the party put up a paid publication in newspapers saying they are postponing the primaries indefinitely until Olisa Metuh was released. Who knows when Olisa Metuh would be released? At that point I had no choice anymore than to leave. The election is time bound. If any party did not hold its primary Tuesday or Wednesday, it will not have a candidate.
She explained that she has to get the ticket and the mandate to serve the constituents the way she has been doing and the way she knows best.
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